United States presidential election, 2008 timeline

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This article or section contains information about an upcoming or ongoing election in the United States. Content may change dramatically as the election approaches and unfolds.

The following is a timeline of events leading up to the upcoming 2008 U.S. presidential election:

Contents 1 2002 2 2003 3 2004 4 2005 5 2006 5.1 October 5.2 November 5.3 December 6 2007 6.1 January 6.2 February 6.3 March 6.4 April 6.5 May 6.6 June 6.7 July 6.8 August 6.9 September 6.10 October 6.11 November 6.12 December 7 2008 7.1 January 7.2 February 7.3 March 7.4 April 7.5 May 7.6 June 7.7 July 7.8 August 7.9 September 7.10 October 7.11 November 7.12 December 8 2009 9 References

[edit] 2002

• October 7 - Maureen Dowd writes article in New York Times entitled "Can Hillary Upgrade?" which claims that Hillary Clinton, serving as the junior Senator from New York, has mollified her criticism of the then-pending invasion of Iraq because "Clinton knows that any woman who hopes to be elected president cannot afford to be seen as too much of a dove," and that she might seek the Democratic Party's nomination in 2008.^[1]

[edit] 2003

• November 27 - In an interview with Germany's Bunte magazine, Hillary Clinton states that she will not be a candidate for the presidency in 2004, and when told that some were disappointed with that decision, she replied: "I know. Well, perhaps I'll do it next time around," widely interpreted that she will consider a run in the 2008 race.^[2]

[edit] 2004

• November 2 - President George W. Bush wins re-election over Senator John F. Kerry.
• November 9 - Following Senator John Kerry's loss in the 2004 election, Cameron Kerry, John Kerry's brother and political confidante stated in regards to another presidential run: "That's conceivable... I don't know why that [last week's loss] should necessarily be it. I think it's too early to assess. But I think that he is going to continue to fight on for the values, ideals, and issues this campaign is about."^[3]

[edit] 2005

• February 7 - After the reelection and inauguration of George W. Bush, in an interview with Fox News Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney was asked whether he would seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2008. He replied: "I've got my plans laid out, I'm going to serve this president for the next four years and then I'm out of here." When pressed further, Cheney also responded to a potential presidential run by stating "Not only no, but hell no" and quoted General William Tecumseh Sherman's famous statement "If nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve."^[4]

[edit] 2006

• March 11 - Southern Republican Leadership Conference Hotline Straw Poll: Bill Frist 526(36.9)%, Mitt Romney 205(14.4)%, George Allen 147(10.3)%, John McCain 66(4.6)%, Mike Huckabee 54(3.8)%; George Pataki 38(2.7)%. Condi Rice 32(2.2)%, Sam Brownback 22(1.5)%, Rudy Giuliani 15(1.1)%, Newt Gingrich 13(0.9)%, Chuck Hagel 3(0.2)%, Scattered 43(3.0)% and Pres. Bush (as a show of support for the war) got 147(10.3)%—This is the first cattle call poll of the cycle.^[5]
• March 21 - Delaware Senator and 1988 Democratic primary candidate, Joseph Biden announces that he will seek the Democratic nomination in 2008.^[6]
• April 17 - Former Democratic Alaska Senator and an active, but unsuccessful 1972 candidate for Vice President on the Democratic ticket, Mike Gravel, stated his intention to run in a speech before the National Press Club.^[7]
• May 20 - Wisconsin State Republican Convention Straw Poll: George Allen 61(17%), Rudy Giuliani 60(17%), Newt Gingrich 53(15%), Condi Rice 50(14%), Mitt Romney 40(11%), John McCain 37(10%), No response 15(4%), Sam Brownback 11(3%), Bill Frist 8 (2%). Tom Tancredo 8 (2%), George Pataki 4 (1%) Mike Huckabee 2 (1%), and Chuck Hagel 1(0%)^[8]
• May 22 - It is announced that Democratic Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd has "decided to do all the things that are necessary to prepare to seek the presidency in 2008."^[9]
• June 2 - Minnesota Republicans hold a straw poll at their annual convention. Results: Newt Gingrich 210 votes. George Allen 79 votes, followed by Condi Rice with 58 and John McCain at 55 votes; Jeb Bush 32 votes, Mitt Romney 29, and Rudy Giuliani 19.^[10]

[edit] October

• October 12 - Former Democratic Virginia Governor and widely-speculated 2008 contender Mark Warner states that he will not seek the presidency in 2008.^[11]
• October 22 - After his decisive victory in November 2004, freshman Illinois Senator Barack Obama stated that "I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years"^[12], he has changed his mind about a presidential run in October 2006, stating: "I don’t want to be coy about this: given the responses that I’ve been getting over the last several months, I have thought about the possibility, but I have not thought about it with the seriousness and depth that I think is required." "After November 7, I'll sit down, I'll sit down and consider, and if at some point I change my mind, I will make a public announcement and everybody will be able to go at me."^[13]
• October 29 - Massachusetts Senator John Kerry makes a "botched joke" about education and Iraq, which dominates the news for the rest of the month.
• October 30 - Republican Representative Duncan Hunter from California announces the formation of an exploratory committee for a presidential run.^[14]

[edit] November

• November 7 - Midterm election: the Democratic Party recaptures the House and Senate.
• November 9 - Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack files papers with the FEC announcing that he's a candidate for the Democratic nomination.^[15]
• November 10 - Senator John McCain announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee.^[16]
• November 11 - Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold withdraws his name from the race.^[17]
• November 13 - Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, formed a presidential exploratory committee to begin raising money for a possible campaign for the Republican nomination.^[18]
• November 15 - Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson announces that he intends to form a presidential exploratory committee in early 2007.^[19]
• November 17 - Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum withdraws his name from the race.^[20]
• November 29 - Tennessee Senator Bill Frist withdraws his name from the race.^[21]
• November 30 - Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack publicly and formally announces he is running for president.^[22]

[edit] December

• December 1 - Indiana Senator Evan Bayh announces the formation of an exploratory committee.^[23]
• December 1 - On the Tonight Show, Illinois Senator Barack Obama lets it be known that he's considering a presidential bid.^[24]
• December 3 - Former South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle withdraws his name from the race.^[25]
• December 3 - The New York Times prints an article on how Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is in discussions with NY Democratic leaders as to setting up a Presidential race.^[26]
• December 4 - Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas announces formation of an exploratory committee.^[27]
• December 9 - Senator George Allen of Virginia, who had lost a close race for reelection, announces that he won't run for president. He was at one time considered a front-runner.^[28]
• December 9 - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson denies he actually announced that he was running in a Fox News interview earlier in the week.^[29]
• December 11 - Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich announces his plans to run for president in a report by the Associated Press.^[30]
• December 15 - After two weeks of "exploration" Senator Evan Bayh withdraws from the race.^[31]
• December 16 - Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards announces he will formally start his candidacy later in the month.^[32]
• December 19 - Former Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore III, announces he is setting up an exploratory committee, saying that he is a "Reagan Republican."^[33]
• December 28 - Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards officially kicks off his campaign in New Orleans.^[34]

[edit] 2007

State of nomination races at beginning of the year:

• National Race (Gallup, Dec. 11-14):^[35]

Democrats: Hillary Clinton 33%; Barack Obama 20%, Al Gore 12%, John Edwards 8%, John Kerry 6%, Joe Biden 3%, Wesley Clark 2%, Bill Richardson 2%, Evan Bayh 2%, Tom Vilsack1%, Christopher Dodd 1%, Dennis Kucinich 1%,

Republicans: John McCain 28%, Rudy Giuliani 28%, Condoleezza Rice12%, Newt Gingrich 8%; Mitt Romney 4%, Mike Huckabee 2%; Sam Brownback 2% ,George Allen 2%, Tommy Thompson 2%,Chuck Hagel 1%, George Pataki 1%, Duncan Hunter 1%

• Iowa (KCCI-TV in Des Moines):^[36]

Republicans: John McCain 27%; Rudy Giuliani 26%, Mitt Romney 9%. Newt Gingrich 7%. Condi Rice 4%, George Pataki 1%, Jeb Bush 1%, George Allen 1%, Sam Brownback 1%

Democrats: John Edwards 22%, Barack Obama 22%.Tom Vilsack 12%, Hillary Clinton 10%, Al Gore 7%, John Kerry 5%, Wesley Clark 4%, Dennis Kucinich 4%, Joe Biden 1%, Evan Bayh 1%, Bill Richardson 1%

• New Hampshire (Research 2000):^[37]

Republicans: Rudolph Giuliani 26%, John McCain 25%, Mitt Romney 10%, Newt Gingrich 8%,Condi Rice 6%, George Pataki 3%, Jeb Bush 1%, George Allen 1%, Sam Brownback 1%, Rick Santorum 1%. Duncan Hunter 0%

Democrats: Hillary Clinton 22%, Barack Obama 21%,John Edwards 16%,Al Gore 10%, John Kerry 7%, Wesley Clark 4%, Dennis Kucinich 4%, Joe Biden 2%, Tom Vilsack 2%, Evan Bayh 2%, Bill Richardson 2%

[edit] January

• January 1 - In the first scandal of the campaign, Rudy Giuliani's secret campaign strategy is made public in the New York Daily News.^[38] Giuliani claims the material was stolen while the News claims it was left in a hotel accidentally.^[39]
• January 3 - Mitt Romney files papers to set up an exploratory committee.^[40]
• January 4 - First fully Democratic-controlled Congress in 12 years takes office.
• January 5 - Kansas Senator Sam Brownback's exploratory committee announces his campaign will officially start on the 20th.^[41]
• January 7 - Senator Joe Biden of Delaware declares yet again he is running, and will set up an exploratory committee later in the month.^[42]
• January 9 - Civil rights activist Al Sharpton announces he's considering another run for the White House.^[43]
• January 9 - Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore files papers for an exploratory committee.^[44]
• January 11 - Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd officially announces his candidacy and files papers for an full-fledged campaing committee.^[45]
• January 11 - The Democratic National Committee announces that it will have its National convention in Denver, Colorado.^[46]
• January 11 - Texas representative Ron Paul announces the formation of a presidential exploratory committee.^[47]
• January 12 - California Representative Duncan Hunter files papers to establish an exploratory committee.^[48]
• January 15 - Colorado Representative Tom Tancredo files papers to establish an exploratory committee.^[49]
• January 16 - Illinois Senator Barack Obama announces that he's forming an exploratory committee.^[50]
• January 20 - New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announces that she's forming an exploratory committee.^[51]
• January 20 - Kansas Senator Sam Brownback officially announces his candidacy for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination in a rally in his homestate of Kansas.^[52]
• January 21 - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson announces the formation of a presidential exploratory committee.^[53]
• January 24 - 2004 Presidential Nominee John Kerry drops out of the race to seek reelection to the Senate.^[54]
• January 25 - Representative Duncan Hunter formally and officially becomes a candidate.^[55]
• January 29 - Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee files papers setting up an exploratory committee.^[56]
• January 31 - Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware formally and officially becomes a candidate.^[57]

[edit] February

• February 1 - Democratic National Committee convenes its annual winter meeting featuring ten 2008 White House hopefuls, in Washington, DC.^[58]
• February 5 - Rudy Giuliani files "statement of Candidacy" with the FEC.^[59]
• February 10 - Senator Barack Obama formally and officially announces his candidacy.^[60]
• February 13 - Mitt Romney formally and officially announces his candidacy.^[61]
• February 21 - Nevada Democrats hold Presidential forum in Carson City. All the major Democratic presidential candidates, including frontrunning Senator Hillary Clinton and former Senator John Edwards, took part with the exception of Senator Barack Obama, who was attacked by Senator Clinton for the remarks of one of his supporters, David Geffen. ABC News commentator and talk show host George Stephanopoulos moderated.^[62]
• February 23 - Tom Vilsack of Iowa withdraws from the race, citing money problems.^[63]
• February 28 - John McCain formally announces that he's going to formally announce his candidacy in April.^[64]

[edit] March

• March 1 - In the first straw poll of the year, the Spartanburg County, South Carolina Republican party gives Arizona Sen. John McCain an official victory.
  The results: McCain 164 votes; Rudy Giuliani 162 votes; Duncan Hunter 158; Sam Brownback 85; Mitt Romney 80; Newt Gingrich 33 (write-in); Mike Huckabee 21; Tom Tancredo 10; John Cox 4; Ron Paul 4; Condoleezza Rice 2 (write-in); Jim Gilmore 1; Tommy Thompson 1; Mr.Sanders (the party was unable to identify this candidate): 1 (write-in)^[65]
• March 3 - Conservative PAC convention in Washington, DC, ends with announcement of the results of their presidential straw poll, which are: Mitt Romney 21%; Rudy Giuliani 17%; Sam Brownback 15%; Newt Gingrich 14%; John McCain 12% and a bunch of others with less.^[66]
• March 4 - New Mexico Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson tells the Associated Press to expect that the Democratic race will be over after the first four Democratic contests are completed.^[67]
• March 9 - In the first Straw poll on the Democratic side, Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd is victorious in York County, South Carolina.
  The results: Dodd 28%; Barack Obama 24%; Hillary Clinton 18%; John Edwards 11%; Al Gore 8% and Joe Biden 5.5%.^[68]
• March 9 - Nevada Democratic debate is cancelled to protest editorial policies of Fox News.^[69]
• March 12 - Texas Representative Ron Paul announces his official candidacy on C-SPAN.^[70]
• March 22 John Edwards's wife Elizabeth announces that her cancer has become melignent, but her husband's campaign will go on.^[71]
• March 22 Barak Obama's Public relations firm fires the creater of a parody of the famous original Macintosh computer ad which attacked Hillary Clinton.
• March 25 Nevada Democratic Presidential forum on Healthcare.^[72]

[edit] April

• April 26 - The South Carolina Democratic Party will host a presidential debate, as part of its Jefferson/Jackson day celebrations, at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg County.^[73]

[edit] May

• May 3 - Log Cabin Republicans' annual conference.
• May 15 - The South Carolina Republican Party will host a presidential debate at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.^[74]

[edit] June

• first week of June (moved from April 4/5) - New Hampshire will hold debates between candidates vying for their own party's bid. The event will be co-hosted by CNN and local area broadcasting.^[75]

[edit] July

• July 1 - Annual NAACP Convention convenes, a must appearance for Democratic hopefuls.

[edit] August

• August 11 - Republican straw poll in Ames, Iowa.^[76]

[edit] September

• September 6 - Another New Hampshire Republican debate, sponsored by Fox News.^[77]

[edit] October

• October 21 - Prime-time televised debate replaces Florida Republican straw poll.^[78]

[edit] November

[edit] December

• December - Deadline to get on the ballot for the New Hampshire primary.
• December 31 - Federal Election Commission Chairman Michael Toner estimated in January 2007 that a serious prospective candidate for President "needs to raise $100 million" by the end of 2007 "just to be 'taken seriously.'"^[79]

[edit] 2008

The dates for caucuses and primaries are still subject to change.^[80]

[edit] January

• January 14 - Iowa caucuses
• January 19 - Nevada caucuses
• January 22 - tentative date for the New Hampshire primary
• January 29 - South Carolina primary

[edit] February

• February 5 - The so-called "National Primary"^[81]: Alabama^[82], Arizona, Arkansas^[83], California^[84], Delaware, Idaho^[85], Missouri^[86], New Jersey^[87], New Mexico^[88], North Carolina^[89], (North Dakota), Oklahoma^[90], Utah^[91] and several other states will combine to either produce an instant nominee, or force open conventions in both major parties. Pennsylvania ^[92] and New York are in the process of moving up the date of their primaries and Florida, Illinois^[93], Minnesota,^[94], Texas^[95], West Virginia, and Wisconsin are also considering moving their primaries to this date.^[96]
• February 12 - DC, Tennessee, Virginia
• February 19 - Wisconsin primary
• February 26 - Arizona primary, Hawaii caucuses, Idaho caucuses.

[edit] March

• (date to be determined) - American Samoa, Democrats Abroad, Guam, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Virgin Islands, Wyoming
• March 4 - The original Super Tuesday: Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont
• March 7 - Colorado primary
• March 8 - Kansas primary
• March 11 - Florida, Louisiana
• March 18 - Illinois, Oregon

[edit] April

(date to be determined) - Alaska

• April 1 - Pennsylvania primary, subject to change by pending legislation in the Pennsylvania Assembly which would move the primary to February 5.

[edit] May

• May 6 - Indiana primary
• May 13 - Nebraska, West Virginia
• May 20 - Kentucky primary
• May 23 to May 26 - The 2008 Libertarian National Convention will be held at Adam’s Mark Hotel in Denver, Colorado (the same city as the very first convention in 1972). The party's 2008 presidential candidate will be chosen.
• May 27 - Washington primary

[edit] June

• June 3 - Montana, South Dakota

[edit] July

[edit] August

• August 25 - The 2008 Democratic National Convention convenes in Denver, Colorado.

[edit] September

• September 1 - The 2008 Republican National Convention convenes in Saint Paul, Minnesota
• September - First Presidential Debate

[edit] October

• October - Vice Presidential Debate
• October - Second Presidential Debate
• October - Third Presidential Debate

[edit] November

• November 4 - Election Day

[edit] December

• December 15 - Electoral College casts official votes for President & Vice-President; each state's electors meet in the state capital

[edit] 2009

• January 5 - The Vice President counts the electoral votes, formally ending the election process.
• January 20 - The inauguration of the 44th President of the United States and Vice President.

[edit] References

v • d • e  United States presidential election, 2008
Democratic primaries • Democratic primary polls • Democratic Convention	Republican primaries • Republican primary polls • Republican Convention Republican Candidates' Beliefs
Candidates: Biden • Dodd • Edwards (views) • Gravel (campaign, views) • Kucinich • Obama (campaign, views) Candidates with exploratory committees: Richardson • Clinton (campaign, views) Potential candidates: Clark • Gore • Sharpton	Candidates: Brownback • Cox • Giuliani (campaign, views) • Hunter • McCain (campaign, views) • Paul (campaign, views) • Romney (campaign, views) Candidates with exploratory committees: Gilmore • Huckabee • Tancredo • T. Thompson Potential candidates: Gingrich • Hagel • Savage • F. Thompson
Announced Third party candidates: Amondson (Prb.) • E. Brown (Grn.) • Burns (Lib.) • Hollist (Lib.) • Imperato (Ref.) • Kubby (Lib.) • Milnes (Lib.) • Parker (IGVA) • Phillies (Lib.) • C Smith (Lib.) • Stanhope (Lib.) • Swift (Grn.) • D. Thompson (Cst.)
Notable independent candidates: Moriarty • Schriner • Weltman • Bloomberg (unofficial)
General articles: Opinion polling (D • R) • Election timeline
Other 2008 elections: House • Senate • Gubernatorial